Chapter Four

Bailey

“Sir, are you okay?”

No, I wasn’t okay. I put up my index finger for the teller to see that I needed a minute as I blinked at the extra zero at the end of my check. Jo must have made some kind of error when he made out the check. Yes, he had mentioned a holiday bonus, but I was expecting maybe a hundred bucks extra. Not an extra zero! And what the hell was still in the envelope? It hadn't even occurred to me to check the envelope before now.

I overturned the envelope onto the counter before the teller and froze at the eTickets for a seven-day holiday cruise in the Western Caribbean. This was really bizarre. There was no way I could lodge the check into my account. I had to bring everything back to Parrish’s home and explain the error they made. This was clearly a mistake. The money was good, and I couldn’t deny it was tempting to lodge the check. I would be able to buy better gifts for the kids and to get a gift Emily deserved. She was a bit sad that her husband would no longer be able to visit her for Christmas. She was spending Christmas with the kids and me so we could cheer her up.

“Sir, I’m going to ask you to continue with your transaction or step out of the line,” the teller said, her voice irritated although when I looked up she still wore a pleasant expression.

“I’m so sorry.” I grimaced, hating being reprimanded for keeping up the line. “I got the wrong check here. I’ll just go. So sorry for wasting your time.”

I scooped my ID up from the counter and left the bank. I glanced at my watch and groaned. I had to wait an hour before I could drive up to Vestavia Hills. Jo had mentioned he would be away for the holiday, and Mr. Parrish wouldn’t be home until sixish. I decided to spend the time at the mall to complete the Christmas shopping I still needed to do. The Riverchase Galleria looked festive, decorated with boughs, bells and even mistletoe. Every shop I walked into had some sort of Christmas music playing in the background and the clerks wore red and white hats.

I picked up new pairs of shoes for the kids at Kids Foot Locker since they were having a holiday BOGO sale. I also found a pair of nice stud earrings for Emily to cheer her up. I stopped by Target to pick up the decorations we would need for the tree, and ended up buying toys for the kids as well. With my check still not changed, I was only able to pick out an item each for the kids as a gift. David always bought them games and fun stuff, while their mother filled them with more practical gifts of clothes and educational material. It was difficult trying to choose an item, but in the end, I got them both bicycles which would be delivered to the house. They didn't know how to ride, and getting them that gift also meant even if they were at my mother's, I'd be there helping them to learn.

Before I got in the car and drove off to Vestavia, I took out the check and glanced at it again. Damn, I could really do with the money. Buying all the Christmas gifts had already put a huge dent in my pocket. I hadn’t bought the stuff we would need for Christmas dinner yet either, and I planned to make it as elaborate as Suzette usually did. I frowned, wondering why they lived such an elaborate lifestyle if they had little savings for their kids in the event something happened to them. I felt guilty at the thought because of the fact that they had savings. They had used it to help me, not realizing they would have died before they could save up again.

I perused the tickets in the envelope as well and took note of the details of the Christmas trip. There were two premium class eTickets for a seven-day cruise from the port at Mobile to the Bahamas. The tickets seemed customized with a lack of details but with information at the bottom of a number to call to fill in the information. This was something I would have killed for two years ago when I didn’t have the responsibility of two kids.

I stuffed the tickets and check back into the envelope and drove to Vestavia Hills. The traffic held me up so I called Emily and informed her I would be a little late. I also chatted with the kids to ensure they were fine before I hung up the phone.

As I drove up the driveway to the estate, I was struck once more at how beautiful the place was. It wasn’t just the gorgeous house, but also the wide expanse of the estate. If I had the means to keep the twins, this was the place where I would have envisioned them living. They would have space outside to play, to learn to ride their new bikes and even camp. Suzette had been overprotective of them and didn’t allow them outside much, but I always thought they would benefit from letting off some of their energies outside instead of being glued to the TV screen.

Too bad this house wasn’t mine, and too bad the kids would be taken from me and given to my mother in the upcoming new year.

Feeling melancholy, I parked before the large gate and pressed the intercom to request entry.

“Haughton, what are you doing here?” Mr. Parrish asked, the surprise evident in his voice.

“Uh,” I stalled because our interactions had always been limited. Almost all transactions I had done at the estate had been done with his butler. There was no Jo this time though to ensure I wasn’t left alone with Mr. Parrish. It would even be more awkward this time as I hoped he hadn’t sensed my attraction to him under the sink yesterday.

“Well?” he snapped into the intercom.

“There’s something I need to speak about urgently,” I remarked, being careful with how I described the issue. I didn’t want to get Jo into trouble for making such a big mistake.

“I assume it can’t wait until the new year?”

I couldn’t decide if he was joking or serious. “No, it can’t, sir.”

This time I could hear his burdensome sigh. He couldn’t be bothered with me. Ouch. “Fine. Come on up. The front door is open.”

The gates parted, and I drove up to the house, determined not to be any longer than necessary. He already wanted me out of his hair, and all I wanted was my check to go.

I parked at the porch and turned off the engine. I held the envelope tight as I exited the car and skipped up the steps. I knocked once on the door, before remembering he had said the door was open. I was taking that as an invitation to let myself in. As I entered the hall and closed the door behind me, I had the sensation of walking into a predator’s lair. I wouldn't mind being his prey. I groaned at the thought. I needed to get a grip and stop having sexy thoughts about him long enough to get the check sorted out.

“Mr. Parrish?” I called out nervously.

“I’m in the bar off the kitchen,” came the reply.

I followed the voice, passing by the kitchen as he had instructed. I’d never been this far into his house before. My eyes landed on the man sitting at the bar and I should not have been surprised at the jolt of awareness that speared through me, but I was. To give myself some time to tame my feelings, I shifted my gaze to take in his home bar. To say I was impressed was an understatement. There was a huge fish tank directly across from me, but I couldn't determine if the little swimmers were real or simply lifelike. I just couldn't imagine Mr. Parrish taking care of pets. On either side of the fish tank were bookcase liquor shelves holding all sorts of expensive looking drinks. A television was mounted on the wall in a corner, and right off the bar was a cozy sitting area with a brown leather couch set. Blown-up photos of a couple were on the wall. Each photo seemed to have been taken in a different country, and I couldn't decide if they were people he knew or just those photos that came along with the frames. And if that wasn’t enough, the shining floor panels from which I swore I could see my reflection held my attention.

“I’m sure you didn’t drop by to admire my floor, Haughton.”

My head snapped back to him at the continued irritation in his tone. He raised a glass and swished the liquid before bringing it to his mouth. I watched the way his lips pressed to the rim and the slight turn of his wrist to tilt the glass as he swallowed. I was puzzled at why such an innocent movement of his ignited my lust. I needed to say what I had to and get the hell out of there before I embarrassed myself more than I already had under the sink.

“Please call me, Bailey.” The words spilled from my lips without consultation with my brain. Why in tarnation had I told him that? “That’s up to you. Stick to Haughton if that makes you feel more comfortable.”

I wasn’t much of a gambling man, but I would bet my face was red.

“Bailey,” he sounded as though he was testing the name. He cleared his throat. “Well, what is it?”

“Right, umm, well, the darnedest thing happened to me today.” I pushed the envelope in his direction. “I think Jo might have made a mistake the last time I was here and he paid me.”

He took the envelope from me gingerly. Had he taken great care not to have our fingers brush, or was that my imagination? “Why do you believe that? Isn't it sufficient?”

I watched him frowning at the check. “It’s actually the other way around, sir. I think I was paid way too much for my services, and I couldn’t in all good faith use that money knowing it was an error.”

“But it’s not an error,” he replied, handing the envelope back to me. “It’s Christmas. You’ve done a great job taking care of my home, and I wanted to show you my appreciation.”

My mouth fell open. “You mean the check, the tickets, they are really mine? It’s not an error?”

He shook his head. “Nope. No error, although I’m pleased with your honesty in coming here.”

“I couldn’t spend the money without confirming,” I told him, still in awe that the money was mine.

“Well, there, you’ve confirmed it.”

Yes, he had confirmed it, and my feet should be leading me out of his house, but I remained fastened to the floor. He had answered the reason for his generosity, but I was still not satisfied with his response. Was there more?